Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sundsvall Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sundsvall

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,776 in Sundsvall.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $2,653 in Sundsvall.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $3,530 in Sundsvall.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 29% less than in Sundsvall, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Sundsvall is 33% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿154
$12.51 SEK 118
-62.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,483
$84.4 SEK 793
-46.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿276
$10.30 SEK 96.7
-18.16%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.7
$4.41 SEK 41.46
-33.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.42
$2.53 SEK 23.76
-72.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿12.00
$2.10 SEK 19.72
-82.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.7
$7.44 SEK 69.9
-67.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$8.09 SEK 76.0
-54.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿73.0
$1.58 SEK 14.86
41.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.9
$3.31 SEK 31.07
-44.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.9
$3.74 SEK 35.14
-41.98%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.4
$3.58 SEK 33.65
-38.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$10.20 SEK 95.9
93.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$10.35 SEK 97.2
-64.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$18.47 SEK 173
-26.75%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$2.90 SEK 27.22
13.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.7
$2.44 SEK 22.88
-34.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.7
$2.65 SEK 24.91
-9.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$4.06 SEK 38.09
-48.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.97
$1.46 SEK 13.76
4.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.41
$1.48 SEK 13.87
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.32
$1.88 SEK 17.67
-47.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.68
$0.99 SEK 9.32
-48.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$7.78 SEK 73.1
-43.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿634
$9.39 SEK 88.2
106.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.64 SEK 15.39
8.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.7
$1.50 SEK 14.13
80.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.83
$3.42 SEK 32.17
-59.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$86.4 SEK 811
-86.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.7
$6.20 SEK 58.2
-51.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.51
$1.23 SEK 11.58
-19.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$61.1 SEK 574
-76.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.55
$1.90 SEK 17.85
-28.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.9K
$26.5K SEK 249.2K
6.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$27.7K SEK 259.8K
18.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,978
$131 SEK 1,235
-7.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$30.18 SEK 283
-55.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿599
$26.01 SEK 244
-29.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,969
$38.55 SEK 362
56.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$26.01 SEK 244
-34.10%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$14.47 SEK 136
-39.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.7K
$144 SEK 1,353
381.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.8K
$4,148 SEK 39.0K
278.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,946
$93.6 SEK 879
-36.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,137
$30.00 SEK 282
15.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,746
$75.7 SEK 711
51.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,723
$132 SEK 1,239
-36.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$828 SEK 7,776
-25.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$625 SEK 5,872
-30.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.5K
$1,197 SEK 11.2K
74.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$890 SEK 8,361
69.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.6K
$2,598 SEK 24.4K
44.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.5K
$1,350 SEK 12.7K
93.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sundsvall
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$3,231 SEK 30.4K
-84.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
4.48
18.97%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Sundsvall: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $828 in Sundsvall. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sundsvall pays 536% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $84.0 in Sundsvall for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $333 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Phuket vs Sundsvall: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sundsvall cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sundsvall?
On paper, Sundsvall earns 536% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Sundsvall?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $828 in Sundsvall. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $144 in Sundsvall. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Sundsvall?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Sundsvall. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Sundsvall?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,776 in Sundsvall, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Sundsvall. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sundsvall more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sundsvall, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Sundsvall?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sundsvall are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Sundsvall. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities